Theory of compartmentalised free-radical polymerisation reactions. Part 5

Abstract

An iterative procedure has been developed for the numerical solution of the exact Smith–Ewart differential difference equations for a compartmentalised free-radical polymerisation reaction in the non-steady state. The procedure is of wide applicability, being capable of extension to include states of as high a radical-occupancy as is considered to be appropriate to the reaction system under consideration. The procedure is also in principle capable of application to reaction systems whose characterising parameters are time-dependent. Examples are given of results obtained using the procedure, and comparisons are made with the corresponding predictions of the Poissonian approximation described in a previous paper in this series.